How Can I Tell If My Child Is Being Bullied?

Kids are often embarrassed about being bullied and don’t want to tell an adult about the problem. However, kids have many subtle ways of letting you know something is wrong. If your children are being bullied, they may:

• Feign illness in order to miss school
  
• Experience a drop in grades
  
• Withdraw from activities they used to enjoy
  
• Come home with torn clothing, unexplained bruises or missing items
  
• Rush home to use the bathroom
  
• Purposely miss the school bus or become anxious about riding it
  
• Act out or have extreme changes in mood
  

If you see any of symptoms of bullying in your child, you may want to ask if there is a problem. Bullying hurts and isn’t just a rite of passage. If your child is being bullied (or bullying), you should take steps to help resolve it.

What Do I Do If My Child Is Being Bullied?

• Listen to your child.
  
• Affirm that it was right to tell you that there is a problem.
  
• Reinforce that your child is not alone and that you will be there for support during this hard time.
  
• If your child is being bullied at school, contact the teacher and/or principal and make a plan.
  
• Be persistent. The bullying may not stop right away. Continue to take action until your child feels safe.